Anti-euro candidates lose in first round of Finnish presidential elections

By: Jonathan Boyd | 22 Jan 2012

Centre Party candidate Paavo Väyrynen and Finns Party candidate Timo Soini were among the losers in the first round of Finland’s presidential election, which is being seen by many as a litmus test of eurozone voter intentions during a year of elections across the region.

Instead, it is the pro-euro candidates Sauli Niinistö and Pekka Haavisto who will face off in the second round of the election on 5 February.

Niinistö, a former finance minister, is the National Coalition Party candidate, while Haavisto is the Green League candidate.

Collectively these two polled 55.8% of the votes, compared to the 26.9% polled by the two main anti-euro candidates, according to figures from YLE.